Aminata Diallo, the main character in this story faces many troubles throughout her entire life. She learns to overcome every trail in her life, even when she did not want to. This book is about survival. Not just Aminata's survival throughout her own life, but the survival of all the characters in the book.
How does the author of this book, Lawrence Hill, tell us about survival?
(Give examples of how the author displays it.)
Which characters learn to survive the best in the conditions they face?
Why do they survive?
(List the character and show a situation and why they survive.)
Are the Negroes the only ones that have to survive in hard situations?
Answer any 2 of the 3 sections above or ALL! If you want.
Or ask questions.
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I believe that the Negroes aren't the only ones that have to survive in harsh situations. The pox was a widespread epidemic during that time, and both Negroes and Whites need to survive in order to get through it. Lindo Solomon, Aminata's master, survived in this situation when his family died. I also believe that Lawrence Hill tells us that in order to survive, you need to be strong, or you would not survive at all. Fanta was a character that said that only strong ones can stay. The author shows this by having characters claim suicide because they are weak and showing the strength of even stronger characters killing others, such as Fanta killing Satu's baby, and having Satu to go after the baby herself. The author also shows that in order to survive, we should be adaptable. Aminata was able to learn English quick, so she was of good use to her masters making it easier for her to live.
ReplyDeleteI think the main character Aminata, survived the best, because she had a strong will,supportive friends-both blacks and whites who continually taught her the skills(baby-catching, reading/writing,etc).
ReplyDelete2. Besides Aminata I think Fomba may not be strong mentally but is physically. He does not talk much but really helped out back home and on the boat. When he got on the boat he was able to fight so many well nourished toubabu during the huge fight, even though he hadn't eaten much.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Mamed is a strong character although we don't se much of him in the book. Even though he is also black he was able to obtain a great position and was able to learn things like to read, that the others would not have ever got the chance to do.
3. I think that not only the negroes but the white also have to survive in hard conditions. Even though they don't struggle as much they still have to go through different sicknesses and also going through the trouble to capture slaves. Although this may seem stupid they do suffer and some die.
Sulekha I do agree with most of your comments. However, I would have to disagree that Fanta is not a strong character. It was very weak of her to kill her own baby and Sanu's baby, she does not show survival. She shows that she is weak because she is not adapting to the situation well.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the last part where you say "The author shows this by having characters claim suicide because they are weak and showing the strength of even stronger characters killing others, such as Fanta killing Satu's baby, and having Satu to go after the baby herself." that does not show strength but that she fanta lost her mind the whole time she thought they were to be eaten. The strength the author i think is trying to is Aminatas and how she survived for so long and has seen so many men die but still was able to keep her sanity.
ReplyDeleteIn the boat the men looked upto aminata and valued her will to survive and help them
Lawrence Hill reveals many important factors through the tale of Aminata Diallo. When she faces several challenges in order to survive, the signficance of love, friendship, and determination prevails. These concepts tie in with the theme of the novel: survival. I believe Aminata and Chekura both displayed strong characteristics in the conditions faced to survive. They supported each other through a strong friendship/relationship. I believe this was what kept them both motivated to keep going through their journey of troubles. I also agree with Sulekha when she says the Negroes were not the only ones that had to survive harsh conditions, although they sufferend much more when being compared to the Whites. With no rights or freedom it was extremely difficult for them to survive.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Fanta killing the baby was a irresponsible act, however she did this for survival and she wanted to show her strength against the toubabus that she is strongly against their actions. At the time, no one was standing up for the Negroes to go against the toubabus, and Fanta was brave enough to do this.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sulekha that Fanta killing the baby was for survival i think that no mother would want to see their child suffer and thats why fanta did what she did because she didn't want to see her child punish in the long run just like she was. She is also brave for doing that and showing her love as a mother.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ato that Aminata may have a strong will to survive, but I believe that Fanta is even stronger when it comes to survival except for the fact that Fanta is stubborn. For example, when the toubabu gave Aminata some cloth to cover herself, Fanta grabbed it from her and said women should be first. Aminata let her take the cloth. This clearly shows that Fanta has what it takes to survive in an environment. Aminata only has more skills to adapt better, but Fanta is stronger when it comes to survival even though she has less skills.
ReplyDeleteI believe both Aminata and Fanta have the same level of strength and capability to survive. Although they both displayed their strengths in different ways. In my opinion, Fanta's stubbornness may have put her at greater risk towards her survival because of certain consequences that may have happened if she were to disobey the toubabus in any way.
ReplyDeletei agree with michelle. both aminata and fanta have the same level of strength and capability to survive. but the thing that differenciates the two characters is the way they present them selves and the way that they think.aminata is the type of person that does what they are told and fanta is they type to be more rebelious, stuborn and demanding
ReplyDeleteFanta is not strong at all, nor does she have the same level of strength as Aminata. Fanta kept her mind tense at all times while Aminata stayed relaxed and tried to find ways to learn how to make herself and advantage to society.
ReplyDeleteThe example Sulekha gave to show Fanta's way of survival, is just another example of how she is stubborn and only thinks for herself. You had just said that her stubborness does not help her in survival, but then you give an example of how she is stubborn and use it to show how she is strong.
Fanta was clearly weak especially when she went ahead and killed her baby along with Sanu's. Fanta didn't think about the resources she had around her and to take advantage of them,unlike Aminata. She just took whatever was in front of her. She didn't look for things essential to survival. But Aminata did, she looked for ways to learn (read & write) and to use them to her survival (getting a comfortable home and food in return).